What Is the Achieving the Dream Model? Each New College Will Commit to the Achieving the Dream Student-Centered Model of Institutional Improvement
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Week of March 3, 2014 MVCC joins Achieving the Dream initiative Signifying a strong commitment to 10th year of working to improve student student success and completion, MVCC success and completion rates across Achieving the Dream Colleges is one of 12 the country,” said Achieving the Dream institutions President and CEO William E. Trueheart. • Calhoun Community College (AL) selected this “MVCC represents a diverse group of • Cowley College (KS) year into the students whose success means much • Georgia NW Technical College Achieving the more than just a personal goal secured. • Grayson College (TX) Dream Na- It means improved skills, better employ- • McLennan Community College (TX) tional Reform ability, and economic growth for their • Mohawk Valley Community College Network. MVCC was welcomed into community and our nation as a whole.” • North Georgia Technical College the network at Achieving the Dream’s “Achieving the Dream is a nationwide • Savannah Technical College DREAM 2014 conference, and will im- effort to increase community college • West Georgia Technical College mediately begin the challenging work of graduation rates,” said Oneida County • West Hills College Lemoore (CA) identifying and implementing evidence- Executive Anthony Picente Jr., MVCC • W. Kentucky Comm & Tech College based strategies for closing achievement class of ’84. “As Oneida County and • Western Technical College (WI) gaps and increasing student retention, MVCC continue to prepare the workforce persistence, and completion rates. The for the future this is an important next selection makes MVCC the first among step and we are proud to take part in it.” the State University of New York’s 30 “Mohawk Valley Community College is community colleges to participate in proud to be the first of the community col- gaining statewide and even national no- Achieving the Dream. leges in SUNY to join the Achieving the tice for its economic momentum, our col- “We are delighted to welcome MVCC Dream National Reform Network,” said lege is making the great institution-wide into the Achieving the Dream National Randall J. VanWagoner, Ph.D., President commitment to become a SUNY leader in Reform Network as we celebrate our of MVCC. “Just as our community is student success and equity.” What is the Achieving the Dream model? Each new college will commit to the Achieving the Dream Student-Centered Model of Institutional Improvement. Based on four principles, the Model frames the overall work of helping Blog outlines strategic agenda more students, particularly low-income students and students MVCC is taking big steps to integrate its new initiatives, of color, stay in school and earn a college certificate or degree. external trends, and existing programs under a new strate- Each college will approach the work differently, but Achieving gic plan that makes student success our No. 1 priority. The the Dream’s five-step process will provide practical guide- outcome: A simpler, more focused approach to leading the lines for helping keep the focus where it belongs and building college through a period of change, with the plan as the momentum over time. Throughout the process, Achieving the single axis around which all other priorities are aligned. Dream Coaches will offer customized support and help each This is the message of the latest President’s Blog, posted college’s core team implement data-informed programs and last week by President Randall J. VanWagoner, Ph.D. To policies that build long-term, institution-wide commitment to learn more about where MVCC is heading under its new student success. Learn more about the Model at http://www. strategic planning process, visit http://mvcc-edu.blogspot. achievingthedream.org/approach/institutional_change. com and check back often for regular updates about how Achieving the Dream, Inc. is a national nonprofit leading the Achieving the Dream, increasing graduation rates, and local nation’s most comprehensive non-governmental reform network economic advances fit in. for student success in higher education history. The Achiev- ing the Dream National Reform Network, including over 200 institutions, more than 100 coaches and advisors, and 15 state policy teams - working throughout 34 states and the District of have a better chance of realizing greater economic opportunity Columbia - helps nearly 4 million community college students and achieving their dreams. Communitas 1 Olympian Erin Hamlin to address 2014 Commencement Erin Hamlin will deliver the keynote address at Mohawk Val- ley Community College’s Spring Commencement, which will be held Friday, May 16 at 4 p.m., at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. A three-time Olympian, Hamlin is the first-ever American to medal in singles luge. The theme of Hamlin’s remarks to MVCC graduates and their families will be, “You’re never too small to hit the big stage.” “Erin Hamlin is a great local success story and an inspira- tion,” said MVCC President Randall J. VanWagoner, Ph.D. “We are honored that she will be speaking to reflect on the accom- plishments and potential of our graduating class of 2014.” Hamlin opened her luging career in 2005. Her first major international victory was the gold medal in the women’s singles event at the 2009 FIL World Luge Championship in Lake Placid, NY. Hamlin’s victory marked the first time in 99 races that a German woman was not the top finisher. Hamlin finished 12th in the women’s singles event at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. She was selected in December 2009 to compete at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and named Athlete of the Year by USA Luge multiple times. Her bronze-medal finish in Sochi was part of an historic seven-medal haul by the USA sliders, a high-water mark for the team that has set even loftier goals for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Hamlin is a native of Remsen, New York. Her parents, Eilleen (’81) and Ron (’86) Hamlin, are MVCC alumni. More information on Erin Hamlin can be found at Twitter@ ErinHamlin, Facebook.com/OfficialErinHamlin, and ErinHamlin. com. MVCC Welcomes NASA TINES Program The Center for Corporate and Community Education and the STEM Center is pleased to welcome the TINES (Teach- ing Inquiry using NASA Earth System Science) program to the MVCC Campus this summer. Representatives from TINES, Deanna TeBockhorst of Colo- rado State University, and Todd Ellis, Principal Investigator from SUNY Oneonta, conducted their site visit at MVCC on Thurs- day and Friday, February 27-28. TINES is a NASA grant-funded program geared toward K-12 teachers. This week-long training program provides teachers with cutting-edge NASA resources that they can use in their class- rooms. This specialized training has only been conducted at two other locations in the country: North Carolina and Colorado. The training program will take place during the week of August 18. During that week, 22 teachers from all over New York State will find their way to MVCC and ers will receive room and board at the Radisson, a stipend for Did You Know? conduct their work on completing the projects, which will occur over a year’s time, a campus. Specifically, travel stipend, and the opportunity to apply for $600 in equip- Fall-to-fall retention the training will focus ment to use in their classrooms. of 1st-time, full- on remote sens- To coordinate the project, CCED is working closely with the time, matriculated ing (NASA satel- STEM Center, Marketing and Communications, and Sodexho. students dropped lites), the GLOBE Assistant Professor Lindsey Geary will also help out with in- from 58.8% for Fall- program, S’COOL, structing some field-based portions of the program. and My NASA DATA To participate in the program, teachers must complete a 2007 to 52.4% for as well as the NSTA simple application, due by the end of May 2014. For more in- Fall-2011? Learning Center. As a formation, contact Carolyn DeJohn, Coordinator of Community part of this grant, teach- Education, at 315.792.5300 or at [email protected]. 2 Communitas MVCC hosts Spring Dinners with Distinction There is a lot cooking on the Rome Campus of Mohawk Valley Community College as the Hospitality Management Program heats up its annual Spring 2014 Dinners with Distinction Series. The dinner cuisines are designed to give MVCC’s culinary arts students a cre- ative outlet for their classroom work. The themes, menus, recipes and food pro- duction are the endeavors of the Banquet and Catering class, Dining Room Service class, and the Baking class. Students will be creating food to delight the palate and an ambiance to soothe the spirits. The Dinners with Distinction dates and themes are: • Wednesday, March 26, featuring a MVCC’s Brigham elected as Regional Ft. Stanwix Local Heritage theme. • Wednesday, April 16, featuring an Vice President at PTK convention East Coast Cuisine theme. The New York Region of Phi Theta College Project and third most distin- • Wednesday, April 30, featuring a Kappa hosted its annual convention in guished officer team in a field of more West Coast Cuisine theme. Corning on February 28-March 2. The than 50 chapters. Their award-winning The cost for each of these dinners, Lambda Beta chapter from MVCC trav- college project was the “From Course to which includes several courses, is $23 eled there to celebrate the year’s hard Career” event they hosted in November, per person and reservations are required. work with other chapters and share ideas which connected students with local busi- Seating begins at 5:45 p.m. with dinner for continued growth in the four hallmarks ness leaders for advice and guidance on service beginning at 6 p.m. of the organization; scholarship, leader- majors and career preparation. Finally, For more information or to make a res- ship, fellowship and service.